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With a burning sensation that could not be expressed in words, the 19-year-old humiliated german football star gulped down another can, crushed it with brute force and hurled it at the television. On the screen was a live telecast of Isagi Yoichi smiling in all his glory after winning a preliminary U20 world-cup football match.
"What luke-warm crud," Kaiser seethed, "I can't stomach the nerve of you." He remembered with dismay of his short time playing alongside the bastard. How it was he who reigned at the top, but who also stupidly let his guard down and payed with utter betrayel in the very end.
The camera panned to Isagi high-fiving a teammate with yellow under-dyed hair, their faces were beaming and they seemed to behave very close in nature.
Zooming in, he could properly analyse Isagi's face. It gleamed with sweat which highlighted his features and illuminated his keen dark blue eues. He watched bitterly as he wiped his temple with the collar of his jersey which exposed some of his midrift, clearly an exhilirated young man high on escasy from his victory.
Kaiser quickly shut the channel off.
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The next day made for a very hazy and disoriented ordeal that hinderd his ability to get up and ensue his usual routine. Groaning, he lurched at his bedside alarm clock that rung in a ridiculous rage, fumbling because his fingers felt unusualy heavy as he was still hazy from last night's fluke.
As he was buttoning his shirt on in front of the mirror, he found that lately all his morning's seemed to play out this way. Slowly, but surely losing himself and spiraling out of control.
It began ever since he returned from Blue Lock: his former teammate Ness was all he had but that was before he mistreated and ultimately rejected him from his life. Now, he was reclused into an empty shell of a person.
The true nature of Michael Kaiser, or so it's told.
Just then the phone rung, muffled beneath layers of bedsheets.
Who could that be? Actually, Ness hadn't contacted him since the finale in NEL and that was a little more than a month ago.
Picking up the reciever, he frowned at the voice.
Of course it was Noel Noa. "A-hem- you can hear me clearly, right? I'm speaking from Spain so there might be some feedback." Kaiser boar out an impatient sigh and agreed. He wasn't in the mood of his precarious attempts to reach him. To get him to return to football, to get him to play in the U20 world cup."Well, i'll like that you don't hang up on me just yet," It was feverishly difficult for him to comply with such an extreme request "so listen very closely. Wait, have you been drinking?"
"Get on with it." Kaiser urged.
Kaiser could imagine Noa making a stark and disappointed face right now. "It's about your mother."
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Kaiser sat seated in his favourite cafe, one he had frequented since he was a little boy and still seeking refuge away from his home. Nowadays however, he dined usually in the mornings. To absolve his recent issue with an upset stomach, headaches and drowsiness.
He picked up the fried breadsticks and inhaled the warm, caramelised arouma and slyly pulled away the woolen scarf that concealed his identity so that he could take a bite.
In fact, Kaiser was still a renowned celebrity, his popularity even skyrocketing post-bluelock, so he still needed to wear a disguise of sunglasses, hoodie up and baseball cap to keep his peace. This time was unusual for him however, as he had ditched the well-tailored designer suits and leather wingtips for clothes that would look no better than business casual.
To completely lock off his personal style and identity. Yes, this was indeed very unlike him.
But, since the news of his mother, he felt especially unnerved and not like himself. The shopkeeper that knew his identity and valued him as a loyal customer had at one point even asked if he was feeling alright.
Kaiser grimaced, unable to digest the words Noa had told him earlier. He lost his appetite and was about to leave.
As Kaiser apologised to the shopkeeper who had asked him why he left so soon without eating, the entrance bell let a jolt and the sound of a pleasent waitress rushing to seat someone filled the room.
Kaiser was in the middle of explaining that he felt ill but stopped in his tracks once he picked up on a familar voice that spoke in the background.
He turned around and his eyes trailed to find a wisp of black hair and..
No it couldnt be.
Kaiser turned away and strained his ears to pick up on the estranged accent, but from it he could not deter a voice that would linger with him for a lifetime.
It can't possibly be. But it was..the same boy he had visted Japan for, player number 11, Isagi Yoichi struggling to place an order in German with the staff.
Kaiser immedietely sat back at his table and began taking a piece from his untouched food.
The shopkeeper looked puzzled momentairly, but then chuckled and returned behind the counter thinking the boy had regained his appetite and was eager for his good cooking.
There was no mistaking it. From the german man's vantage point, Isagi was dressed in an overly weather-accomidating outfit that consisted of fluffy ear muffs and mittens that he had taken off before analysing the menu with narrowed eyes.
The waitress let out a bemused laugh and offered to take his coat and hang it on the rack, to which the japanese boy responded with a very enthusiatic "danke" paired with a very attractive smile.
The waitress giggled and blushed a rosey red.
Kaiser had never seen him like this before. He clung his scarf to his mouth and had to strain himself to keep from snickering at Isagi's adorable deplorable attempt at german pronunciation while reading the menu.
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly in contemplation. But, what was Isagi doing all the way here anyway? Kaiser hated to admit it, but he wanted to know why he wasn't preparing for his next match with France.
By now Isagi had finished what he had ordered. Isagi..He is going to leave again.
Kaiser would probably regret this tremdously later, in fact he could hear every jarring thought coursing through his mind telling him why he fucking shouldn't right as he walked towards their table; just in time as the waitress returned with Isagi's bill.
They both turned, surprised at him.
Kaiser reached out of his pocket and then extended his hand on top of the table. He left a sum of money that was probably way more than what was on Isagi's tab.
Before anyone could respond, and without even a moment for Isagi to even register what was going on, he waved at the owner and headed on out towards the cobblestone street.
Outside, Kaiser took a breath, taking in a rush of air that swerved past harshly as he succeeded in hailing down a taxi. Unaware of the cafe's bell dinging as it's entrance door swept open from a short distance.
Today, he had two anomalies to deal with. Pfft, Kaiser muttered while climbing into his seat and telling the driver where to go, he certainly could not afford to enjoy any peace. He also felt unusually tired.
Before the car could depart, an abrupt knocking noise on his backseat window suddenly caught his attention. Kaiser rolled down the window in shock.
It was Isagi. He was slightly out of breath but maintained eye contact.
"I wanted to thank you, sir" Isagi shook his head. "Or well..danke..shon?" He corrected himself knowing that nobody here could understand his Japanese.
Kaiser didn't know what to say, or how to react. From the rearview mirror the driver made an impatient face.
"Actually.." Isagi sheepishly peered at him closely before widening his eyes into an incredulous look.
"Kaiser?"
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That was his name, it rung in his ears with an uncomfortable sensation. How could he deny it? Kaiser reluctantly pulled away his sunglasses and confronted Isagi's dazzled look with a weak, sarcastic smile."So it is.." He mumbled while they both ignored the drivers quickened drumming on the dashboard, but could not shake off the immensely awkward atmosphere that hung in the air.
Isagi looked like an array of emotions, but mostly confused. He was about to say something but then stopped himself. Instead, he leaned his back on the car door while rummaging for something inside his cross-body bag.
Kaiser tried not to stare too much at Isagi's side-profile, at how his bangs hung over his focused eyes. He had a much better view than what any broadcasting channel could provide.
"Are we going or not?" The taxi driver grunted.
Kaiser didn't say anything, as if he hadn't heard him at all. On the other hand, Isagi bit his lip knowing that his time was almost up.
"Mingling party is over, the meter's running now." The taxi driver bared no more patience and belted the gear-shift out of park.
Isagi swiftly turned back at him, handing Kaiser what appeared to be a folded piece of paper. His tired eyes shifted towards it, not noticing Isagi who leaned through the window and spoke close to his ear.
"Welcome back, my enemy". He announced in perfect german.
Isagi pulled away hurridely, just in time for the Taxi driver to agressievly release the break. He watched as they pulled out of the curbside and disappeared into Munich's bustling traffic.
Somewhere nearby and out of sight, the sound of a high-definition camera clicked.